Ypres Tower, Rye

Ypres Tower (also known as Wipers Tower) is a solid square tower built in the 13th century as part of Rye's medieval fortifications. Constructed around 1260, it stands on one of the highest points in the old town and overlooks the defensive ditch and earthworks that once protected this important port and border settlement.

The tower is built from coursed sandstone and retains much of its original structure, though the interior has been modified over time. From the top you can see across the rooftops of Rye's medieval streets down to the marshes and the River Rother. The tower is operated as a museum and visitor space, with displays on Rye's medieval fortifications and local history. Climbing the internal stairs gives you access to different levels and views.

Ypres Tower is one of the few surviving medieval fortifications in Rye, standing as evidence of the town's strategic importance as a Cinque Port defending the Kent coast. Its name is said to derive from soldiers returning from the Siege of Ypres in the First World War, though the building itself dates back nearly 800 years. The tower sits within the broader medieval townscape that is Rye's defining character, with narrow streets and period buildings radiating from its base.